To be unbiased - Steelers report from Pittsburg Post Gazette
Steelers Notebook: Maddox won't make waves over demotion
Thursday, November 04, 2004
By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Tommy Maddox took the news of his official demotion in stride yesterday but could not say what the future holds for him, either here or elsewhere.
An elbow injury and then the sensational play of rookie quarterback Ben Roethlisberger combined to convince coach Bill Cowher to announce that Maddox would serve as a backup the rest of the way.
After he practiced for the first time since his injury Sept. 19 in Baltimore, Maddox said his arm felt fine and so did his feelings.
"It's obviously disappointing because you want to play, but in the same sense you understand. The team is playing well, Ben's playing well; we're on a roll, and that's my main deal.
"I want to help the team any way I can and do the things I have to do and prepare myself, because you never know when you're going to get called on again to get in there and play."
Maddox signed a one-year contract extension in June through the year 2007 that remains salary cap friendly even if he continues to perform as a backup. It's also possible they could trade him. He would not speculate on his future or whether he would be content to remain a backup here.
"I don't know. I don't think that now's the time to really talk about that. I think that's something we'll address after the season and see what they want to do and see where they want to go and look at my situation."
Plaxico is just Plax
Plaxico Burress has a new agent but he's not worried about the big contract that likely awaits him at the end of the season, nor is he concerned about attracting the kind of attention that goes with the antics of Eagles wide receiver Terrell Owens.
"I'm just me, I'm just Plaxico."
Burress is the only receiver among the top 100 in the NFL averaging 20.0 yards a catch, but he doesn't have as many of those as he might prefer.
"I average three receptions a game; I have 21 catches in seven games," Burress said with a little laugh. "What do you want me to say? We're 6-1, why wouldn't I be happy? I feel when coach wants us to make a play, he'll call our number. I think that's what he pretty much does."
Burress has three of his four touchdown catches in the past two games and, for the first time, delivered the football to a fan in the stands afterward. He kept his other 18 touchdown catches in his five-year career. He didn't pull out a Sharpie and sign it to his new agent, Michael T. Harrison of Immortal Sports Entertainment in Santa Monica, Calif., either. Burress has been without an agent since he fired his this summer.
The only celebrating Burress has done is a gyration that has no name; he says is "just a little shake your tushie type of thing."
Burress loves what T.O. does but says that's not for him.
"That's not what drives me, to get in the end zone and do a dance. What drives me is to see guys around me have success. I'm probably having that success because I have 10 guys working hard.
"I've never been a selfish player, I just want to win football games. If I catch no passes for no yards and we win this weekend I'll be just as happy as I am today."
Recognition, that's all
Linebacker Joey Porter earned the AFC defensive player of the week for his three sacks and two forced fumbles against New England to go with a team-high eight tackles.
"You don't get nothing for it," Porter said. "You get some recognition, I guess. I'm looking more to what we can do against Philadelphia."
Quick outs
RB Duce Staley did not practice yesterday. He's listed as probable with a sore knee. ... Philadelphia's starting RB Brian Westbrook, listed as questionable with a rib injury, went through a portion of their practice yesterday, and the Eagles are optimistic he will play Sunday. Philadelphia has two other players as questionable: G Jermane Mayberry (calf) and WR Todd Pinkston (knee). S J.R. Reed (hamstring) is doubtful.
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